Wednesday, September 07, 2011

MACON, Ga. – USC Upstate’s Gilbert Kemboi and Joan Tangwar both finished first at the USC Upstate Eye Opener Invitational to kick off the 2011 season and earned the Atlantic Sun Runner of the Week honors, announced Wednesday by the conference office.

• Seventh Career Player of the Week award
• Took first place at the Eye Opener Invitational ahead of 155 other competitors
• Crossed the finish line in 24:53 in the 8,000-meter race
• Helped the Spartans to a fourth-place finish at the meet

• Mike Strasser (Sr., North Florida) – Placed 8th at Covered Bridge Invite; Cut 30 seconds from PR
• Matt Miller (Jr., Belmont) – Finished 5th out of 100 runners at Belmont Opener
• Argeo Cruz (So., FGCU) – Claimed first place at FGCU Invitational in time of 20:25.10
• Isaiah Greer (Jr., Lipscomb) – Took 6th place at Belmont Opener in 15:38.63

• Fourth Career Player of the Week award
• Posted school and course record of 17:06 at Eye Opener Invitational 5,000m race
• Finished first ahead of 166 runners to open up the 2011 season
• Helped the Spartans to a fifth-place finish at the meet

• Barrie Cohen (Jr., FGCU) – Led the Eagles to second-place finish at FGCU Invitational
• Dani Walker (So., Lipscomb) – Finished 6th at Belmont Opener 4K in 14:23.80
• Kacie Niemann (Jr., Mercer) – Broke her own school record by cutting 13 seconds off 5K time
• Caitlin Standifer (Sr., Belmont) – Placed 9th at Belmont Opener in time of 14:30.77
• Erin Nixon (Sr., North Florida) – Earned runner-up finish at Covered Bridge Invite in 18:40.2

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